HC Deb 06 June 1984 vol 61 c168W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the number of sitting days and the average length of sitting of the House for each Session from 1954 to date.

Mr. Biffen

The information requested is as follows:

Session Sitting days Average length of daily sitting
1953–54 187 8 hours 11 minutes
1954–55 84 7 hours 58 minutes
1955–56 219 7 hours 57 minutes
1956–57 159 7 hours 40 minutes
1957–58 156 7 hours 54 minutes
1958–59 159 7 hours 48 minutes
1959–60 160 8 hours 02 minutes
1960–61 168 8 hours 30 minutes
1961–62 160 8 hours 23 minutes
1962–63 162 8 hours 15 minutes
1963–64 155 8 hours 14 minutes
1964–65 177 9 hours
1965–66 65 8 hours 15 minutes
1966–67 246 9 hours 50 minutes
1967–68 176 9 hours 02 minutes
1968–69 164 9 hours 26 minutes
1969–70 122 8 hours 16 minutes
1970–71 206 8 hours 50 minutes
1971–72 180 9 hours 17 minutes
1972–73 164 8 hours 53 minutes
1973–74 60 8 hours 21 minutes
1974 87 8 hours 28 minutes
1974–75 198 9 hours 20 minutes
1975–76 191 9 hours 13 minutes
1976–77 149 9 hours 12 minutes
1977–78 169 8 hours 47 minutes
1978–79 86 8 hours 35 minutes
1979–80 244 8 hours 55 minutes
1980–81 163 9 hours 07 minutes
1981–82 174 8 hours 08 minutes
1982–83 115 8 hours 34 minutes